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Saturday Night Live season 40

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"SNL 40" redirects here. For the show's 40th Anniversary Special, see Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.
Saturday Night Live
Season 40
The title card for Saturday Night Live – season 40, showing New York skyscrapers.
No. of episodes21
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 27, 2014 (2014-09-27) –
May 16, 2015 (2015-05-16)
Season chronology
← Previous
season 39
Next →
season 41
List of episodes

Saturday Night Live premiered its fortieth season during the 2014–15 television season on NBC. The season premiered on September 27, 2014, with host Chris Pratt and musical guest Ariana Grande and came to a conclusion on May 16, 2015, with host Louis C.K. and musical guest Rihanna. Former cast member Darrell Hammond succeeded Don Pardo, who had died in August,[1] as the show's new announcer.[2] The premiere included an interstitial photograph of Pardo – SNL's announcer since it premiered in 1975 (with the exception of season 7 and episode 14 of season 21 – where Hammond took his place).[3]

This season was alternatively known as Saturday Night Live 40 and SNL40.

Cast

As part of an ongoing rebuilding process, which executive producer Lorne Michaels indicated would result in cast changes for the 2014–15 season,[4] a number of those changes were announced prior to the start of the season. Longtime cast member Nasim Pedrad, who had been on the show for five seasons since 2009, announced her departure in June 2014, as she was to star on the Lorne Michaels-produced sitcom Mulaney.[5] Following Pedrad's departure, featured players John Milhiser, Noël Wells, and Brooks Wheelan were all let go following the finale, after only one season with the cast.[6][7] Additionally, Mike O'Brien, a writer for the show for four seasons before joining the cast at the start of the previous season, returned to the writers' room for this season, which would be his last as a writer.[8] Despite his departure from the cast, O'Brien still made occasional appearances in several sketches throughout the season. Overall, of the eight cast members introduced during the previous season, only Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, Colin Jost, and Sasheer Zamata returned. Bennett, Jost, Mooney and Zamata remained as featured players.

To fill the void following Pedrad, Milhiser, O'Brien, Wells, and Wheelan's departures, two comedians joined the cast at the start of the season: stand-up comic Pete Davidson, the first SNL cast member to have been born in the 1990s,[9] and former SNL writer Michael Che as a Weekend Update co-anchor, replacing Cecily Strong, who remained in the cast.[10] Che left SNL at the end of the previous season to become a correspondent on The Daily Show.[10] After making appearances on Weekend Update and in several sketches, writer Leslie Jones was promoted to the cast on October 20, 2014 as a featured player.[11]

Coinciding with the show's fortieth anniversary, SNL introduced a new logo created by design firm Pentagram.[12][13]

Cast roster

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 40 (2014–15)

Prior to the start of the season, five new writers were hired: Alison Rich, a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York;[14] Nick Rutherford, a member of Los Angeles-based comedy group Good Neighbor;[15] Natasha Rothwell, a performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York;[16] Streeter Seidell, CollegeHumor front page editor;[16] and Jeremy Beiler, writer on Inside Amy Schumer.[16]

Due to the departures of previous writing supervisors Marika Sawyer and John Solomon), fellow writers Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider (both of whom previously joined the writing staff in 2011), and Kent Sublette (a writer since 2007) were named as the show's new writing supervisors.[17]

As for the Weekend Update writing staff, Pete Schultz (who joined the Update writing staff in 2011), was named as the segment's head writer.[17] Additionally, starting with the Cameron Diaz-hosted episode, Dennis McNicholas (who previously wrote for the show from 1995 to 2004; and was head writer for those last four seasons) returns to the writing staff, as a writer solely for Weekend Update.

This was the final season for Mike O'Brien, (an SNL writer for six years since 2009; who briefly returned to the writing staff this season after being in the cast for the previous one), and also Claire Mulaney, who joined the staff in 2013, as well as the only season for writers Natasha Rothwell, Nick Rutherford, and Alison Rich.[18]

Episodes

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		HostMusical guest(s)Original air dateRatings/
Share
7671Chris PrattAriana GrandeSeptember 27, 2014 (2014-09-27)4.0/10[21]

7682Sarah SilvermanMaroon 5October 4, 2014 (2014-10-04)3.9/10[22]

  • Maroon 5 performs "Animals" and "Maps".
  • Adam Levine appears as Freddie Mercury in the "Joan Rivers" sketch and as himself in the "Car Ride" sketch.
  • An image of Joan Rivers, who died a month earlier, is shown in silence following the "Joan Rivers" sketch.
  • Former cast member and current writer Mike O'Brien makes an appearance in the "Whites" commercial.
7693Bill HaderHozierOctober 11, 2014 (2014-10-11)3.8/10[23]

  • Hozier performs "Take Me to Church" and "Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene".
  • Writer and future cast member Mikey Day appears in the cold open.
  • Hader's Skeleton Twins co-star Kristen Wiig (SNL alumni) appears during the opening monologue, in the Hollywood Game Night sketch, introduces the tribute to Jan Hooks (alongside Hader), and introduces Hozier's second performance.
  • Harvey Fierstein appears during the opening monologue.
  • A tribute to Jan Hooks, who died two days earlier, is shown by re-airing "Love is a Dream", a sketch from 1988 with Phil Hartman.
  • SNL writer Leslie Jones appears during the "39 Cents" commercial.
  • Long time production designer Akira Yoshimura appears during the pre-recorded "Group Hopper" trailer.
  • Hader portrayed The Cat in the Hat in one sketch, a role he would later voice in a 2025 animated film.
7704Jim CarreyIggy AzaleaOctober 25, 2014 (2014-10-25)4.1/10[24]

7715Chris RockPrinceNovember 1, 2014 (2014-11-01)4.9/10[25]

  • Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL perform a medley including the songs "Clouds" (with Lianne La Havas), "Plectrumelectrum", "Marz" and "Anotherlove".
  • This episode marks Prince's final television performance before his death in 2016.
7726Woody HarrelsonKendrick LamarNovember 15, 2014 (2014-11-15)4.1/10[27]

7737Cameron DiazMark Ronson & Bruno MarsNovember 22, 2014 (2014-11-22)4.1/10[28]

  • Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars perform "Uptown Funk" and "Feel Right" with Mystikal.
  • A memorial picture of Mike Nichols, who had died of a heart attack three days before, was shown after a "High School Theater Show" sketch.
7748James FrancoNicki MinajDecember 6, 2014 (2014-12-06)4.4/10[29]

7759Martin FreemanCharli XCXDecember 13, 2014 (2014-12-13)3.9/10[30]

77610Amy AdamsOne DirectionDecember 20, 2014 (2014-12-20)4.0/10[31]

77711Kevin HartSiaJanuary 17, 2015 (2015-01-17)4.1/10[32]

77812Blake SheltonBlake SheltonJanuary 24, 2015 (2015-01-24)4.7/10[33]

  • Blake Shelton performs "Neon Light" and "Boys 'Round Here".
  • Taran Killam introduces Shelton's first musical performance.
  • Kate McKinnon introduces Shelton's second musical performance.
77913J. K. SimmonsD'AngeloJanuary 31, 2015 (2015-01-31)4.3/10[34]

78014Dakota JohnsonAlabama ShakesFebruary 28, 2015 (2015-02-28)3.8/9[35]

78115Chris HemsworthZac Brown BandMarch 7, 2015 (2015-03-07)4.0/10[36]

78216Dwayne JohnsonGeorge EzraMarch 28, 2015 (2015-03-28)3.7/9[37]

78317Michael KeatonCarly Rae JepsenApril 4, 2015 (2015-04-04)3.7/9[38]

78418Taraji P. HensonMumford & SonsApril 11, 2015 (2015-04-11)3.8/10[39]

78519Scarlett JohanssonWiz KhalifaMay 2, 2015 (2015-05-02)3.4/9[40]

78620Reese WitherspoonFlorence + the MachineMay 9, 2015 (2015-05-09)3.7/10[41]

78721Louis C.K.RihannaMay 16, 2015 (2015-05-16)3.8/10[42]

Specials

TitleOriginal air dateUS viewers
(millions)
"SNL's NFL Saturday"January 31, 2015 (2015-01-31)3.80[44]

A selection of past sketches related to the NFL were shown.[43] Aired sketches included:

  • "Bob Swerski's Quiz Masters", from the season 17 episode hosted by Chevy Chase
  • "Schmitt's Gay", featuring Chris Farley and Adam Sandler, from the season 17 episode hosted by Steve Martin
  • "Sexual Harassment and You", a TV Funhouse short by Robert Smigel, from the season 30 episode hosted by Tom Brady
  • "NFL on CBS", from the season 32 episode hosted by Jeremy Piven
  • "Text Message Evidence", from the season 37 episode hosted by Eli Manning
  • "United Way" and "Locker Room Motivation", from the season 32 episode hosted by Peyton Manning
  • "Tebow", from the season 37 episode hosted by Jimmy Fallon
  • "NBC Football Promo", from the season 37 episode hosted by Channing Tatum
  • "Super Champions", from the season 39 episode hosted by Melissa McCarthy
  • "ESPN Bowl Madness", from the season 37 episode hosted by Charles Barkley
"An SNL Valentine"February 14, 2015 (2015-02-14)N/A

Previous skits with a Valentine's Day theme are presented.[45] Aired sketches included:

  • "Dancing in the Dark" from the season 3 episode hosted by Steve Martin
  • "Some Dumb Little Thing from CVS" from the season 39 episode hosted by Melissa McCarthy
  • "The Best of T.T. & Mario" from the season 30 episode hosted by Jason Bateman
  • "The Love Toilet" from the season 17 episode hosted by Macaulay Culkin
  • Weekend Update: Daisy Rose discusses romantic comedy-themed sitcoms from the season 40 episode hosted by Jim Carrey
  • "A Sexy Valentine's Day Message" from the season 38 episode hosted by Justin Bieber
  • Weekend Update: Adam Sandler sings "Red-Hooded Sweatshirt" from the season 18 episode hosted by Alec Baldwin
  • "Nerds Prom Night" from the season 3 episode hosted by Buck Henry
  • "The Date" from the season 35 episode hosted by Megan Fox
  • Weekend Update: Jimmy Fallon on Valentine's Day from the season 24 episode hosted by Brendan Fraser
  • "The Continental" from the season 15 episode hosted by Christopher Walken
  • "Romantic Speech" from the season 39 episode hosted by Louis C.K.
  • "Gatorade Love Bucket" from the season 26 episode hosted by Mena Suvari
  • "Love-Ahs" from the season 27 episode hosted by Drew Barrymore
  • "I Just Had Sex" from the season 36 episode hosted by Jeff Bridges
  • "Les Jeunes de Paris" from the season 36 episode hosted by Emma Stone
"SNL 40th Red Carpet Live"February 15, 2015 (2015-02-15)N/A
A special hosted by Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Carson Daly and Al Roker. They interviewed past hosts, current and previous cast members, and musical legends who had previously performed on the show.[46]
"Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special"February 15, 2015 (2015-02-15)23.1 (Live+SD); 26.5 (Live+3)[1]; 5.1 million (repeat)[2])[49]
A three and a half hour prime-time special celebrating SNL's 40th year on the air.[47][48] This special assembled together a large list of current and former cast members, hosts, and musical acts from throughout the show's forty seasons.[47][48] This special became NBC's most-watched prime-time, non-sports, entertainment telecast since the ER season finale in 2004.[49]

References

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  2. ^ Carter, Bill (September 18, 2014). "Darrell Hammond to Replace Don Pardo as the Announcer for 'Saturday Night Live'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Patches, Matt (August 21, 2014). "Darrell Hammond Remembers Don Pardo, the Voice of SNL". Grantland.
  4. ^ "Lorne Michaels: More 'SNL' cast changes coming". CNN. June 13, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014. Lorne Michaels says that Saturday Night Live can expect cast changes before its 40th season begins in September. In an interview with Deadline, the creator and longtime executive producer of NBC's late-night sketch show said, 'We're still in the middle of rebuilding. So there will be changes this year.'
  5. ^ Strecker, Erin (June 9, 2014). "Nasim Pedrad implies that she's leaving 'Saturday Night Live'". EW.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
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  10. ^ a b Hibberd, James (April 28, 2014). "'The Daily Show' hires 'SNL' writer Michael Che as correspondent". EW.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
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  14. ^ "Alison Rich Hired as a Writer at 'SNL'". Vulture. August 28, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  15. ^ McCarthy, Sean L. (September 9, 2014). "SNL hires Nick Rutherford to reunite, write with his Good Neighbor mates". The Comic's Comic.
  16. ^ a b c Wright, Megh (September 9, 2014). "Natasha Rothwell, Streeter Seidell, and Jeremy Beiler Join 'SNL's Writing Staff". Vulture. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
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  18. ^ Wright, Megh (September 21, 2015). "Meet 'Saturday Night Live's Six New Writers". Vulture. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  19. ^ Carter, Bill (September 11, 2014). "New Comic to Anchor 'Update' on 'S.N.L.'". New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  20. ^ Zuckerman, Esther (September 18, 2014). "Darrell Hammond replacing Don Pardo as 'SNL' announcer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  21. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 28, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' Season Premiere With Host Chris Pratt and Musical Guest Ariana Grande Even With Last Season's Finale". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  22. ^ Bibel, Sara (October 5, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Sarah Silverman and Musical Guest Maroon 5 Down From Last Week's Premiere". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  23. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 12, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Bill Hader and Musical Guest Hozier Down From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  24. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 26, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Jim Carrey and Musical Guest Iggy Azalea Hits Highest Adults 18-49 Rating Since April". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  25. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 2, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Chris Rock and Musical Guest Prince Hits Highest Adults 18-49 Rating Since February". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  26. ^ Cut For Time: Tweet - Saturday Night Live. YouTube. November 19, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  27. ^ Bibel, Sara (November 16, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Woody Harrelson and Musical Guest Kendrick Lamar Matches Highest Adults 18-49 Rating This Season". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 19, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  28. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (November 23, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Cameron Diaz and Musical Guests Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars Down From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 25, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  29. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 7, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host James Franco and Musical Guest Nicki Minaj Rises From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  30. ^ Bibel, Sara (December 14, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Martin Freeman and Musical Guest Charli XCX Down from Most Recent Episodes". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  31. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (December 21, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Amy Adams and Musical Guest One Direction Even With Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  32. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 18, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Kevin Hart and Musical Guest Sia Flat With Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 18, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  33. ^ Bibel, Sara (January 25, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host and Musical Guest Blake Shelton Up From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  34. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 1, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host J.K. Simmons and Musical Guest D'Angelo Down From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  35. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 1, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Dakota Johnson and Musical Guest Alabama Shakes Down From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  36. ^ Bibel, Sara (March 8, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Chris Hemsworth and Musical Guest Zac Brown Band Up From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  37. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 29, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Dwayne Johnson and Musical Guest George Ezra Down From Last Original". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  38. ^ Bibel, Sara (April 5, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Michael Keaton and Musical Guest Carly Rae Jepsen Up From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  39. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 12, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Taraji P Henson and Musical Guest Mumford and Sons Down From Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  40. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 3, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Scarlett Johansson and Musical Wiz Khalifa Down From Prior Episode". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  41. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 10, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Reese Witherspoon and Musical Guest Florence + The Machine Earns Highest Adults 18-49 Rating Since January". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  42. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 17, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' With Host Louis C.K. & Musical Guest Rihanna Down from Last Week". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  43. ^ "Saturday Night Live listings". Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  44. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 1, 2015). "TV Ratings Saturday: 'NFL Honors' Up Year-to-Year + 'Red Band Society' Makes Weak Saturday Debut". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  45. ^ "Saturday Night Live listings". Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  46. ^ "Saturday Night Live listings". Retrieved February 2, 2015.
  47. ^ a b Bradley, Bill (April 18, 2014). "'Saturday Night Live' Will Celebrate Its 40th Anniversary With A Three-Hour Live Broadcast". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  48. ^ a b "NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' 40th Anniversary Special Set". Deadline. April 18, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  49. ^ a b Hibberd, James (February 16, 2015). "SNL anniversary breaks NBC ratings records". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
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